Antelope Valley youth soccer coach accused of molesting players

Authorities began investigating Renoir Valenti, 50, last month after the mother of a 9-year-old boy reported that her son had been molested, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The boy was not one of Valenti's players, but detectives later identified two players under the age of 15 who had also allegedly been abused by Valenti.

He was arrested Aug. 6 at his Lancaster home, authorities said, and charged two days later with felony continuous sexual abuse of a child and annoying or molesting a child. He remains in jail and is due in court Monday.

Valenti coached in the American Youth Soccer Organization for more than 16 years, and authorities said they believe he "used his position as a soccer coach as a method to meet and befriend children." Investigators ask anyone with information about other potential victims to call Sgt. Brian Hudson at (877) 710-5273.